HOME & FAMILY EMPLOYMENT AND HOME CARE IN THE EU - EUROPEAN WHITE PAPER A CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVE - EFFE
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HOME & FAMILY EMPLOYMENT
AND HOME CARE IN THE EU
A CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVE
EUROPEAN WHITE PAPER
5
HOME & FAMILY EMPLOYMENT
AND HOME CARE IN THE EU
EUROPEAN WHITE PAPER
Contact:
Aude Boisseuil, General Delegate
+33 (0) 626 082 166
aude.boisseuil@effe-homecare.eu
6
INTRODUCTION 4
PART 1 6 Home employment in Europe: adapted responses
to the needs of citizen and to the stakes
of the European public policies
7 1 | Work-life balance and participation of women to the labour
market
8 2 | Active ageing and caring for persons in situations of dependency
9 3 | Encourage systems to support declared work
10 4 | Social value and professionalisation of home employment
11 5 | Home employment in Europe, a vehicle for the inclusion
of migrants
PART 2 12 Recognition and visibility of the home employment
sector at European level
13 1 | Provide a statistical scope to the home employment sector
in order to ensure its development
15 2 | Declare domestic jobs for a public policy in favour
of social rights
21 3 | Which status within the European public policies?
PART 3 22 A necessary improvement of working conditions for
domestic workers at European level
23 1 | Ensure the development of a social dialogue
at European level and in the Member States
for an efficient social protection of domestic workers
28 2 | Ensure safe working conditions for domestic workers
31 3 | Ensure professionalisation to guarantee quality jobs
PART 4 34 Inclusion of the home employment sector in European
public policies
35 1 | Family employment and home care: a social innovation model
for European regions to be taken into account in the future
Cohesion Policy
38 2 | Formal and informal carers: essential inclusion in European
public policies
40 3 | Meet the challenges of demographic ageing and work-life
balance, integrate migrant populations
CONCLUSION 44
PROPOSALS 45
CONTRIBUTORS 50
3INTRODUCTION
SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE SECTOR OF HOME EMPLOYMENT
IN EUROPE: STAKES AND PROPOSALS
Home employment refers to a It is therefore a contractual work Through these individual solu-
large range of activities which contri- relationship between two private tions, they provide a citizen response
bute to the well-being of families individuals, without any trading or to major collective issues: suppor-
and persons in their home: child- profit-making objective. ting population’s ageing, supporting
care, caring for the elderly and the women participation to the labour
disabled, housekeeping, educational T h e E u r o p e a n W h i t e Pa p e r market and birth rates, creating
support, DIY, gardening, computer intends to define, specify and pro- declared jobs, developing social
assistance, etc. In the sector of home mote the specific characteristics of rights, recognising new skills for
employment between private indivi- this employment model, which pro- domestic workers and integrating
duals, a household finds an external vides answers to various economic, migrants decently.
response to its needs by employing a social and societal stakes in Europe.
person at home, with the right skills Home employment is mostly a res-
matched with these needs. ponse to private households’ needs.
Home employment sector and the relationship between families
and domestic workers share several specificities such as:
A high number A predominantly female Low skilled A high number
of undeclared population, often with workers; of workers with several
workers; immigrant background, employers (working in
coming either (within several households);
or outside from
the European Union);
A high number A high number Home/workplace The employer being
of part-time workers; of multi-skilled/ inviolability; a private individual
multi-tasked workers; and not a firm, finding
a solution to its needs,
without any trading or
profit-making purpose.
4INTRODUCTION
The European White Paper makes Italy, between 28% and 40% in the The European White Paper thus
proposals and focuses on the stakes Netherlands[1]. Without changing the aims at explaining how the home
of the home employment sector structure of the not-intermediated employment sector in Europe can
between private individuals, as des- relationship between the beneficiary participate in the production of
cribed above, and not to be confused and the employee, constituted by a wealth in the Member States and
with other organised sectors, such direct relationship without interme- become a major contributor to
as the sector of social welfare ser- diary, the simple switch of these public policies resulting from the
vices or home-care service providers activities into the formal economy European Pillar of Social Rights. This
already identified. would significantly increase the text, signed by the European insti-
number of jobs of the sector, with tutions and Heads of State and the
EFFE’s aim is to ensure recogni- EU government on 17th November
a social protection for workers who
tion of a European sector of home 2017 and driven by the President
had been deprived from it so far as
employment between private indi- of the European Commission, Jean-
though they contribute to national
viduals, in which citizens define Claude Juncker, is non-binding. It
wealth productions... This transfer
their needs and create their own also discloses a range of 20 com-
may only be massively deployed
solutions, choosing their employees mon principles for genuine European
thanks to digital employment plat-
freely, and creating jobs that gene- social convergence.
forms: with online, simplified and
rate social rights without gaining
adequate methods, families can
profit from them, as long as these Social Europe remains an evol-
easily meet, recruit and declare their
jobs are declared. This sector offers ving concept. There is no common
future employees.
virtuous solutions to meet social and social policy within the European
economic challenges: depending on In France, the share of unde- Union. The fields of employment and
whether state investment in suppor- clared work in the home employment unemployment, the issues related to
ting these jobs exceeds or equals working conditions, vocational trai-
sector is currently estimated at less
the social contributions paid by the ning, professional equality between
than 20% by DARES (Directorate
household employers, declared work women and men, social protection
for Research, Studies and Statistics,
becomes less expensive than unde- or social relationships in firms, do
Labour Ministry) against 50% in 1996.
clared work, for a reduced or neutral not fall under the EU’s responsibility
The model of good practices, carried
cost for public finances. but rather under national policies.
by social partners and public autho-
rities for more than 20 years, now The EU can only set minimum rules
In Europe, the home employ-
allows France to be at the top of the that States are bound to respect (e.g.
ment sector statistics are quite poor,
most advanced countries in terms in terms of working time). For exa-
implying difficulties in measuring
of securing the employment rela- mple, the European Commission has
its importance and compromising
tionship between private individuals chosen to translate certain orienta-
its visibility. Several statistics are
at home. Thus, by reducing the cost tions of the Pillar into European law
incorrect or very incomplete, and the
by proposing several texts related to
share of informal employment is not of employment through tax-credit
working time, employment contracts
identified. mechanisms and decreased social
and access to social protection or
contributions and by simplifying
Precisely because a lot of domes- parental leave. The White Paper
the procedures to declare a domes-
tic worker’s jobs are carried out in takes into account this coordination
tic worker, public authorities have
the undeclared economy, the home between different levels to develop
contributed both to transforming a
employment sector has a strong its proposals.
large part of the undeclared activity
growth potential. A large part of into declared jobs, and to democrati-
household services is still perfor- sing access to the sector for all[2], by
med by undeclared workers: e.g. giving citizens their share of initiative.
this share is estimated at more than
45% in Germany, more than 40% in
[1] European Commission, Developing personal and household services in the EU. A focus on house work activities, 2013.
[2] O
ther examples: in Germany, the implementation of mini-jobs has simplified the declaration of household employees for private
individuals and enabled them to benefit from a reduced tax rate. In Austria, a legalisation campaign has managed in two years
to reduce undeclared work with the elderly by 80% (the campaign targeted the long-term care of the elderly).
5PART 1
HOME EMPLOYMENT IN
EUROPE: ADAPTED RESPONSES
TO THE NEEDS OF CITIZEN
AND TO THE STAKES
OF THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC
POLICIES
Home employment is crossing many
different social standpoints throughout Europe
as it connects population ageing, better work-life
balance or integration of migrants to one another.
6 6HOME EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE: ADAPTED RESPONSES TO THE NEEDS
OF CITIZEN AND TO THE STAKES OF THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICIES
1 | WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
TO THE LABOUR MARKET
The access to consistent and In this context, over the last few However, the rate of participa-
diversified childcare solutions enables years, many reflections related to tion of women in the labour market
parents to pursue their professional the support to caregivers have lead conceals several part-time jobs. Part-
activity when they have children. to develop respite solutions. One exa- time work is much more prevalent
A domestic and professional child- mple is the outsourcing of some of among women than among men:
care offer hence turns out to be an the care and domestic tasks to a third in 2016, in the EU28, 31.4% of 20 to
essential contribution to cover young person. Home employment is a promi- 64-year-old women worked part time
children’s care needs, be it full-time sing response to the global work-life compared to 8.2% of men.
care for infants or only after-school balance needs as it permits to let
care for older children. This enables ”chosen domestic workers”[3], declared Home employment is a factor
parents, especially mothers, to keep and paid by the families, do a part of enabling the development of the par-
their jobs while maintaining birth the domestic and care tasks, which ticipation of women in the labour
rates. are still largely allocated to women. market, as it allows to increase and
These respite solutions allow to avoid diversify childcare solutions and to
In European societies, elderly per- burn out situations for women and reduce the burden of domestic tasks
sons are often cared for by women of their partial or total withdrawal from and care activities for children and
the family, especially by daughters. the labour market. Statistics give a the elderly. Indeed, Europe cannot
Whether they care for their elderly perfect demonstration of these stakes. do without the workforce of women
parents in their home (in Spain, for – those who take care of domestic
example, this practice is still wide-
spread), or take care of their elderly/
ill/dependent parents in their own
The employment rate of women
between 20 and 64 years old in
Europe increased from 51.2% in 1997
activities at home, and those who
employ them – and their participation
in creating wealth for EU countries,
1
homes, carers of the elderly are most to 66.5% in 2017[4] and should continue which must face an increasing demo-
often women. In some cases more to progress over the next few years. graphic challenge. In certain countries,
than others, depending on the coun- However, several gaps still remain fertility rates are too low to ensure
tries, they also sometimes perform a between the Member States. Regar- the renewal of generations and to
professional activity and also carry ding the participation of women in the enable a sufficient contributors’ ratio
along motherly duties. All women labour market, France is among the to finance the pensions of an increa-
dealing with this situation, endorsing European average (72.2%), but seve- singly ageing population, whose life
together all these different social roles, ral countries have rates of over 75% expectancy has been significantly
and assuming the different tasks e.g. Sweden (79.8%), Iceland (85.5%), extended.
associated to them, could testify that Norway (76.2%), Switzerland (77.4%)
this kind of experience may lead to or Germany (75.2%). On the contrary,
risks of great fatigue or even burnout Italy, Greece and to a lesser extent,
and ceasing their professional activity. Spain, appear to be further behind
with female participation rates of
52.5%, 48% and 59.6% respectively.
[3] The use of the term “domestic workers” should be the subject of a semantic evolution, as it covers many more activities
than simple housework.
[4] Eurostat data, European survey on workforces
7PART 1
2 | ACTIVE AGEING AND CARING FOR PERSONS IN SITUATIONS
OF DEPENDENCY
On 1st January 2017, people aged in France, the proportion of per-
65 years old and over represented sons aged over 85 years living with
19.4%[5] of the European population, their relatives has been divided by
with significant differences depen- almost three, going from 31% to 11%,
ding on the countries (22% in Italy between 1982 and 2011[6]. In Europe,
and in Greece, 21% in Germany, and 14.1% of households are made up of
13% in Ireland). Eurostat population one person aged over 65 years living
projections show that the proportion alone in 2016 [7] . Their proportion
of elderly persons will significantly amounts to 18.7% in Lithuania and
increase: in 2035, they will represent is higher than 15% in the other Baltic
almost one-quarter of the population States, in Bulgaria, Denmark and Fin-
European societies must stop
in Belgium (24%), Portugal (25%), land. On the contrary, it is very low in
relying entirely on women to take
Sweden (24%), and even more in Cyprus (7% of all households) and in
care of the elderly. Families need to
Italy (29%) and in Germany (30%). Spain, countries in which the elderly
outsource at least part of this care
Furthermore, the relative proportion are more often cared for within their
by entrusting it to persons who are
of very elderly persons in the whole families.
not part of the household. It is essen-
population is progressing more qui-
Assistance and care for the tial to professionalise this sector so
ckly than any other segment of
elderly at home is one of the stakes that domestic workers can provide a
the European Union’s population.
that all European Union countries quality support and the appropriate
It is thus expected that the share
are bound to face for the years to care, and prevent or slow down the
of elderly persons over 80 years
come. This is due both to the indi- loss of autonomy when it is possible.
old in the EU28 will double or more
vidual choice of the persons in This relies as much as possible on
between 2015 and 2080, rising from
question (for example, in France, it progresses in home automation to
5.4% to 12.7%.
is estimated that more than 80% of relieve workers of hard and repetitive
The European population is persons would rather stay in their domestic tasks, and on developing
ageing and the elderly live more and home until the end of their life [8]), training and skills focused on unders-
more frequently alone, as living with and to the fact that it is financially tanding the specific requirements
relatives tends to be less frequent, unsustainable to institutionalise the of the elderly and on interperso-
due to the death of the spouse, the care of very old people, whose num- nal human relationships, which are
trend for less cohabitation between ber continues to grow. It is therefore sometimes cruelly lacking for the
generations and the increasing geo- necessary to develop new methods most isolated persons, and that even
graphical distance between children of assistance to grant decent ageing the most sophisticated robots are not
and their parents. For example, to European elder populations. “yet” able to provide.
[5] Eurostat, Structure and ageing of the population, May 2018.
[6] L. Trabut, J. Gaymu, “Living alone or with relatives after 85 in France: huge differences depending on the departments”, Population &
Sociétés, no.539, Ined, December 2016.
[7] “People in the EU: who are we and how do we live?”, Eurostat.
[8] Source: Report “Bien vieillir à domicile: accompagner les seniors”, Institut Montaigne, Paris, June 2015, on institutmontaigne.org
8HOME EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE: ADAPTED RESPONSES TO THE NEEDS
OF CITIZEN AND TO THE STAKES OF THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICIES
The majority of this support is countries. Several domestic wor- To face the challenge of the
provided by the employees of the kers directly employed by families ageing in Europe, it is absolutely
European sector of home employ- already deal with this assistance, necessary to bring in public policies
ment, at least in the countries in with or without public support, in a to ensure the development of these
which assistance for dependant legal context generating social rights new employment models and these
persons is not exclusively provided for the employees, or in an incom- new jobs, and to professionalise
by public service providers or in a plete and barely emerging legal them.
situation of public service delega- context that doesn’t allow to avoid
tion, like in some of Northern Europe situations of domestic exploitation.
3 | ENCOURAGE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT
DECLARED WORK
When families paying for assis- The future of Europe is also lin- In order to ensure that the decla-
tance from domestic workers ked to skills and knowledge of the ration of the activities performed in
declare the jobs created, the wor- European citizens. They constitute the home employment sector beco-
kers concerned become fully-entitled a professional identity, which may
1
mes a reality in all Member States
employees in their country, which be used, reinforced and completed, where such activities are still too
is supposed to guarantee that they through personalised career paths, in often performed in the informal eco-
access to decent working conditions. order to meet with the ever-changing nomy, national public policies have
Moreover, declaring domestic jobs requirements and skills needs. to set up the regulatory context, as
should enable the payment by fami- a priority, along with systems for
lies of social contributions. Therefore, Declaring domestic workers’ simplifying and encouraging such
the Member States can implement jobs is therefore essential because it declaration. This could free domestic
social welfare for the employees: generates fundamental social rights CESU
workers’ jobs from informal work.
such as health insurance, pension and the possibility to invest specific
and unemployment benefits. funds in the development and adap- In other words, these public
tation of the essential skills required policies have to be adapted to
These social contributions may to ensure quality, especially to meet employment between citizens, and
also support professionalization, the challenges of educating very take into account that families are
which may seem less fundamental at young children and caring for the not firms, and therefore are not the
first sight, but is absolutely essential elderly at home. usual type of employers. Such poli-
for workers’ professional develop- cies will generate additional wealth,
ment and adaptation of their skills to safe and protective jobs, solutions to
families’ requirements. the work-life balance and women’s
participation in the labour market
issues, and conditions for a balanced
care of the elderly at home.
“ Only incentive, job declaration supportive,
home employment adapted policies (...)
will truly display efficiency. ”
9PART 1
4 | SOCIAL VALUE AND PROFESSIONALISATION
OF HOME EMPLOYMENT
It is essential that these millions Domestic workers’ jobs are deman- Developing domestic workers’
of jobs are declared and made safe, ding, and subject to high professional skills is therefore the most definite
but also that domestic workers are risks: toxicity of cleaning products, way to ensure the development of
professionalised. The economic and musculoskeletal disorders due to real jobs with high human added
social value of these jobs currently the daily carrying of children or value, and the best way to make
seems obvious, but workers’ pro- moving dependent elderly persons, societies and families aware that
fessional skills have to be developed household chores, along with the these jobs deserve wages, social
to ensure quality services for the emotional commitment which is welfare and professional recognition.
households needing them. Families necessary in many relationships of
wish to entrust their home, or their care and assistance. In order to meet Declaring domestic workers
children or elderly relatives, to trust with the expectations of families generates social contributions that
worthy persons, and the starting and individuals, and also to learn to automatically finance their pro-
point of this trust lies in the gua- protect oneself and prevent occupa- fessionalization, essential to the
ranteed skills of the workers. tional illness or accidents, domestic recognition of their jobs and to get
workers have to develop professional out the underground economy. It is
Early childhood care is beco- specific skills. this virtuous circle that Member States
ming an issue of social investment must endeavour to encourage.
and initial education of children. In Professionalization is the first step
this context, developing domestic towards recognizing the domestic
workers’ skills is a prerequisite for workers sector. It guarantees higher
well-being and security. For the care quality of service and/or more safety
of elderly, specific, technical and in the results of the service provided
relational skills are required for pre- and it is essential for specialisation
venting as much as possible, slowing and qualification, which are factors
down, and then accompanying a of progress.
loss of autonomy at home: making
a home safe, respecting the habits
and privacy of the person while
caring for him/her, stimulating and “ Professionalization is the necessary corollary
assisting the elderly persons without to the recognition of domestic workers.
doing the task for them, observing It guarantees higher quality of service and/or
and constantly adapting the support more safety in the results of the service provided.
to match the evolution in abilities, etc.
It is essential for specialisation and qualification,
which are factors of sector-based progress. ”
10HOME EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE: ADAPTED RESPONSES TO THE NEEDS
OF CITIZEN AND TO THE STAKES OF THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICIES
5 | HOME EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE, A VEHICLE FOR THE INCLUSION
OF MIGRANTS
Structuring the home employ- The European Union should the- Many migrants need to work
ment sector in Europe must lead to refore continue to see the arrival of in order to be able to get out of
meet massively with the living requi- populations in situations of insecu- insecure situations. The jobs asso-
rements of European households, at rity in their own country and forced ciated with home employment and
the various stages of their life cycle, to flee. household services rely on rela-
and with the employment and pro- tionship and technical skills and are
tection needs of the sector’s workers. Although, in this context, the accessible to persons with few or no
This necessary organisation is useful White Paper does not aim at dea- qualifications, or to persons whose
for the inclusion of migrants within ling with the appropriateness and qualifications acquired in their home
hosting Member States. legitimacy of the solutions to be countries are still not recognised in
implemented by Member States the host country. The European sec-
Migration has been a decisive for welcoming these migrants, tor of home employment may be a
characteristic of European history. it contributes to considering the vehicle for the inclusive integration
It is the result of inequalities and ways of including and integrating of migrants in the Member States
geopolitical, socioeconomic, demo- these migrants, both with dignity where permitted by the legislative
graphic and environmental changes. and effectively. The workforce context.
It is now acknowledged that the geo- requirements for meeting with
political situation in various parts of the challenges of accompanying It may however only perform
the world and the current and future an increasingly-ageing European this role if the European public poli-
climate changes should have an
impact in terms of migratory move-
ments.
population, along with the need for
support at home for women wishing
to join the labour market, are not cur-
cies are made, first of all, to organise
this sector by giving it the necessary
means, through its professionaliza-
1
rently sufficiently covered, whereas tion and especially its regularisation,
they will continue to grow. to avoid emphasizing the insecurity
of the migrant workers who might
join the sector.
11PART 2
RECOGNITION AND
VISIBILITY OF THE HOME
EMPLOYMENT SECTOR
AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
Highlighting the sector’s economic weight,
social stakes and employment perspectives
can only be achieved through a better statistical
recognition of home employment.
12RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY OF THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
1 | P
ROVIDE A STATISTICAL SCOPE TO THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR IN ORDER TO ENSURE ITS DEVELOPMENT
It is essential to include the home But these two classifications do Home employment is therefore
employment sector in the national not intersect. It is therefore difficult to calculated in a way which, for cer-
statistics, to assess its economic grasp the home employment sector tain countries, may be considerably
proportion at European level and to in its diversity and as a whole. underestimated. The case of France
specify its components, in order for is emblematic, in this respect: the
the public policies of Member States These classifications only allow figure available in the European sta-
to be able to rely on this sector to to understand it partially: the specific tistics drawn up by using the NACE
provide solutions to the day-to-day NACE 97 category which permits to 97 category only lists 300,000
requirements of European citizens assess the “activity of household household employers (pensioners
and to the issues structuring the employers of domestic workers” is therefore), whereas out of the 3.4
debate on social aspects in Europe often used to consider home employ- million household employers listed
(ageing, migration, social rights, ment, but the activities of elderly or via the French public statistics, it
work-life balance, etc.). How many childcare, are not included in this is considered that at least 2 mil-
people work in this sector and what category. For example, in France, lion employ a person performing a
are their profiles? Who benefits from where administrative statistics are declared professional activity.
their work how many beneficiaries available via the home employ-
are there? What types of activities ment declarations, for all of the 3.4 In the European statistics, the
are performed? To what extent does million households declaring the sector of Personal and Household
their mobilisation lead to meet with employment of a domestic worker, Services (PHS) represented around
2
future societal stakes? What are approximately 1.2 million employ 8 million declared jobs in Europe in
the positive external aspects of this one person to look after their young 2016, i.e. 4% of total employment. As
sector of activity, in each Member children, and around the same to a comparison, the hospital sector
State and at European level? care for the 60 and more, i.e. two- represented 4.7% of total employ-
thirds of the total employees. ment and the building sector, 6.8%.
Currently, the existing nomencla- This figure covers direct employ-
tures used for producing European In addition, this NACE cate- ment, corresponding to 2.2 million
statistics only refer to a partial aspect gory only considers the persons jobs, and which has been seen to be
of the definition of home employ- employing a worker at home and poorly assessed and rather underes-
ment. The NACE (classification of who do not have any other econo- timated, and employment through
economic activities) permits to iden- mic activity, in other words, mainly service providers (associations,
tify the activities performed in the pensioners. public services, firms, etc.), identified
home, depending on whether they in the NACE 88 category.
are paid for directly by the families
or by external service providers. In
parallel, the International Standard
Classification of Occupations (ISCO)
implemented by the ILO permits to
classify employees according to the
type of occupation performed and
therefore to distinguish domestic
helpers and cleaners from care wor-
kers.
8 million declared jobs in Europe
in 2016, i.e. 4% of total employment
13PART 2
In this last category, there are 5.3 The low capacity of available The first step for the recognition
million declared jobs, but again the European statistics to provide quality of the home employment sector
activities considered only partially data for considering the economic in Europe is the demonstration, in
fall within the scope to be defined, weight of the PHS sector and the connection to the European insti-
as childcare without accommo - proportion of the home employment tutions and decision-makers, of its
dation for example is included in sector is related to the diversity of economic weight. But also its social
it, along with a certain number of models which are more or less and societal stakes, its prospects in
services that may be performed out- develo ped and regulated in the terms of employment in particular
side of the home. On the contrary, European countries. For example, for less-integrated workers, and its
the activities of domestic housekee- in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and role for reinforcing a social Europe,
pers are not included in it. In its “PHS Belgium, household services are along with its contribution to local
Industry Monitor” [9] report, the EFSI mainly provided by external service development and the creation of
makes a direct link between the providers or independent workers local solidarity in the territories.
lack of consideration of the sector (self-employment model). The lar-
and its poor statistical identification, gest number of jobs supposed to For the sector, the objective is also
whether on a European level or on a fall within the direct home employ- to assess and qualify the problems
national level in the various Member ment sector is found in Italy, Spain it faces such as removing jobs from
States. and France and to a lesser extent in the informal economy, professiona-
Germany and Portugal. lization of employees and economic
viability of households. All of them
requires having precise and suffi-
ciently coordinated data which is not
presently the case.
OUR PROPOSALS
Include the concept of “domestic worker” in the sta- Create a European observatory of home employment
tistical classifications and reorient these on the basis sector of households to gather reliable data, specific
of the workers’ jobs and not only on the basis of the to the sector, that would complete data established
economic activity as is currently the case. One of the by agencies such as Eurostat and Eurofound, share
reasons for the lack of consideration of the sector is and provide detailed information on the sector of
a clear statistical difference whether on a European home employment and on related mechanisms. The
level or a national level of different Member States. aim would also be to assess the impact of the public
policies drawn up by the Member States to ensure
Create an ad hoc working group in partnership with economic viability of the demand for household
the national statistics organisations and Eurostat to services, simplify the formalities for declaring an
revise and correct current errors. employee and professionalise household jobs.
CESU
[9] EFSI report " PHS industry monitor: statistical overview of the personal and household services sector in the European Union”,
April 2018, http://www.efsi-europe.eu/fileadmin/MEDIA/publications/2018/PHS_Industry_monitor_April_2018.pdf
14RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY OF THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
2 | DECLARE DOMESTIC JOBS FOR A PUBLIC POLICY IN FAVOUR
OF SOCIAL RIGHTS
The declaration of household Families fail to declare home It leads to demonstrate the effi-
employment is an objective in itself, employment for two main reasons: ciency of a public policy with the
between the social and econo- the absence of a quick and simple incentive to declare employment: the
mic stakes of the sector. From the system to declare the worker, and cost of one hour of declared work
domestic workers perspective, the the high cost of declared work, com- is made up of the net wage paid
declaration must enable access to pared to the average budget of the to the employee, and of the social
all social rights: the benefit of social families. For example, in France, the contributions. A universal social-tax
protection in return for their contri- total amount of social contributions mechanism enables the employer
bution to producing wealth for the is barely less than the net wage family, for each hour of declared
country. From the Member States’ paid to the employee. First, domestic work, to benefit from a set deduc-
perspective, the declaration, through workers who are often in an inse- tion of employer contributions, or
the social contributions paid by the cure situation seek to increase their to be able to deduct half of the total
families creating these jobs, is a immediate resources; Secondly, the amount incurred from the latter’s
source of income that contributes to household are limited by their family taxes.
abound a shared social protection budget in terms of home employ-
system. This is indeed the purpose of ment expenditure. In parallel, other systems may
the declaration in this sector of acti- be set u p for the partial or total
vity: the high level of pooling of the When public policies with incen- exemption of employer contribu-
contributions collected enables the tives are set up, they encourage the tions, depending on the employer’s
2
financing of ambitious and univer- transfer of the workers and jobs to profile, his/her age, level of depen-
sal social protection policies for the the formal economy, while barely dency or disability, status as parent
population (pension, unemployment, disrupting the family methods and of a young child, etc. This universal
training, prevention, etc.). organisations. Many families have system makes the cost of declared
the possibility of regularising the work lower than that of undeclared
In order to increase this income employment situation of persons in work. The systems targeting vulne-
in Member States where the home whom they trust and to whom, very rable persons or those whose needs
employment model has a potential often, they are attached, after seve- are recognised by society, reduce
for development, governments must ral years of working together and, this cost further, thus increasing their
find solutions to encourage families sometimes in certain countries, of employment capacities.
to declare the activity of the domes- living together.
tic workers that they pay off the The cost for the State should be
books. In countries in which informal In these conditions, what systems assessed against all of the positive
methods of home employment are permits to encourage the households external aspects implied: home care,
substantial, the potential for deve- to declare home employment? France even partially subsidised, costs less
lopment of legal home employment is an example of good practices for the State than a place in a collec-
sector is considerable. deserving to be analysed, even though tive care structure; an elderly person
it cannot be reproduced as such. who may be assisted regularly in
his/her home, sees a decrease in
his/her loss of autonomy and may
therefore grow older for longer in
his/her home; parents, in particular
mothers, who delegate a part of their
household tasks and may have their
children minded, are able to contri-
bute fully to the labour market, etc.
15PART 2
Alongside these social-tax sys- Simple and quick declaration for- But it is also an observation tool
tems for reducing the cost of malities constitute important factors that allows to have a better idea
declared employment, a digital tool for encouraging the declaration of of the working conditions of the
to easily declare the working hours employment, especially if they com- employees, to simulate the impact
was set up around twenty years ago: plete a system of financial support of the mechanisms on the States’
the CESU (employment and services for the creation of home employ- public finances, to analyse over time
vouchers). The concept consists in ment, and this is their primary aim. the efficiency of the policies car-
the family employer paying a net This online declaration platform of ried out and to identify the limits of
wage to his/her employee. By decla- employment is particularly efficient public support below which families
ring this monthly wage online (in just as it enables the immediate transfor- will stop declaring their household
a few clicks) on the CESU website, mation of these monthly declaration employees. It thus provides an awai-
it generates the automatic calcula- deeds into comprehensive statistical ted understanding of the activity of
tion of the social contributions after databases on the activity of the sec- the home employment sector, which
the universal set or targeted deduc- tor. It also allows to provide data in permits to consider its positive exter-
tion, and the direct debit from the real time that may be broken down nal factors, and to provide public
bank account of the social contribu- per period, employee, employer and, policies with the means to improve
tions owed by the family. The CESU per employer category, considering their own efficiency. The mecha-
National Agency is in charge of redis- the specific exemptions from which nisms of digital jobs declaration are
tributing the social contributions to certain families benefit depending on therefore even more efficient as
the various social welfare organi- their profile. they lead not only to generate new
sations (pension, unemployment, virtuous declaration practices on an
illness, old age, training, etc). An addi- The digital declaration platform economic and social level, but also to
tional stage has now been passed, is therefore a tool that encourages provide to public policies the means
as from 2020, the online declaration declared work. for their continued improvement.
will also trigger the debit of the net
wage from the employer’s account
and its payment to the employee’s
account.
“ The digital job declaration platform
is an incentive tool for work declaration
but also an observational tool allowing
better understanding of general work
conditions of the employees and to
simulate the impact of declaring
mechanisms over States’public finances ”
OUR PROPOSALS
The implementation of adapted public mechanisms The simplification and rapidity of the declaration for-
enabling to encourage households to declare home malities through the implementation of simplified
employment. digital platforms for encouraging the declaration,
enabling an understanding of the sector and the
statistical assessment of the public policies which
accompany the sector within the Member States and
on a European level.
16RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY OF THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
FOCUS:
BELGIUM AND ITS SERVICE VOUCHERS /
DIENSTENCHEQUES
Created in July 2001 and amended in December The registered firm also benefits from a state grant.
2003, the Service Vouchers system continues to be For example, in 2013, for each voucher of a value of
implemented to this day. Private individuals may pur- €8.50, the registered firm received €22.04, i.e. 160%
chase one hour or more of time from a household more than the wage paid to the worker with service vou-
worker by using a paper or electronic voucher. This chers.
system is limited to housework, cleaning and ironing,
sewing, preparing meals and transporting persons with The household workers employed by registered firms
limited mobility. The services may only be provided by in relation to this scheme have a written “service vou-
household workers employed by registered firms. The chers” employment contract with the registered firm – a
users purchase the “voucher” from the issuing agency. fixed-term contract for the first three months of employ-
ment and an unlimited-term contract from the start of the
For the work performed, the user dates and signs the fourth month with the same firm. They receive the basic
voucher(s) corresponding to the number of hours worked wages according to the scales in force and full social
and provides the voucher(s) to the operator having per- insurance covering accidents. The Belgian social dialogue
formed the work. mechanism guarantees that the agreements on working
conditions and wages are negotiated every two years.
The worker provides the vouchers to the registered
firm which sends them to the issuing organisation in
charge of refunding the value of the voucher.
Workers falling under this scheme also have access to
vocational training. In order to promote the quality of the
services provided to private individuals, Belgium has set
2
As from 2015, a voucher costs 9 Euros per hour for the up social funds enabling registered firms to refund the
users for a maximum of 400 vouchers and 10 Euros per costs of vocational training provided to their employees.
hour for the following 100 vouchers. The persons using In 2011, 38% of the workers with service vouchers bene-
this system benefit from a tax deduction of between fited from vocational training (EFSI, 2013).
10 and 30% depending on their region of residence.
When the tax deduction is applied, the hourly cost of An analysis on the cost / profit of this mechanism for
the household services is reduced to €6.30 without any the public authorities was carried out in July 2018[10].
administrative invoice or costs. In 2013, the price of the
voucher would be very “close” to the price of undeclared
work. As indicated above, the users may only purchase
500 vouchers per year maximum, whereas special
groups, such as single-parent families and disabled per-
sons, are authorised to purchase up to 2 000 vouchers
per year at the same unit price. There are some other
administrative procedures but these are relatively simple
and the registered firms selling the services assist the
individual users through the system.
[10] Report, "Une vision à 360° sur les titres-services", IDEA Consult for Federgon, Belgium, July 2018, on federgon.be
17PART 2
FOCUS:
GERMANY
AND ITS “MINI-JOBS”
SYSTEM
The German “Mini-Jobs”, voted in 2003 under In March 2009, 4.9 million Germans held a Mini-Job
Gerhard Schröder’s Socialist government as part of as their only professional activity or as a complementary
the so-called Hartz laws, were thought up in order to activity. In March 2012, 2.3 million more Germans (7.29
encourage a return to work for populations who were million in whole) held a Mini-Job, including more than
far removed from the job market, such as the long-term 65% who performed no other activity in parallel with this
unemployed, students or housewives. The aim was Mini-Job. Mini-Jobs are extremely present in the home
to increase flexibility of the labour market, reduce the employment sector.
non-working population and fight against unlawful or
undeclared work. Although this new method of employment with
“moderate wage” has enabled a decrease in undeclared
A Mini-Job may not be paid more than 450 Euros work and a decrease in unemployment, the main criti-
(net) per month to the worker. Initially, it could not exceed cism made of it is that it creates jobs that lead to an
a period of three months, but this criterion has since increase in poverty and increased insecurity of the wor-
been withdrawn. The added value of the contract is its kers. The social benefits remain much lower than for
“win-win” nature: the worker, exempt from employee standard jobs and lead to maintaining a sort of base of
contributions, benefits from a guaranteed minimum unqualified and marginalised workers, somewhat pro-
wage and a minimum base of social benefits through the moting work of low quality and legitimising insecure and
declaration of his/her activity. The employer, responsible under-acknowledged jobs.
for all contributions, receives benefits such as the exemp-
tion of certain costs, such as VAT, or the decrease of
certain other contributions.
18RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY OF THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
FOCUS:
THE FRENCH CESU, HOW TO DEVELOP
NEW SERVICES TO MEET WITH
EVOLUTIONS IN SOCIETY?
The CESU is an offer to simplify the formalities pro- Since its first online service in 2003, the use of the
posed by the Urssaf[11]. It enables a private employer to CESU website has developed and now has more than
declare the wage of a home worker, easily, for services 20 million visits per year. The CESU must now meet with
to individuals. The CESU covers all private individuals new ambitions.
at various stages of their life, to improve day-to-day
life, to take on a few hours of cleaning or to accom- The CESU, committed to the development of inno-
pany an elderly or disabled person. For the employee, vative services, works with start-up firms in the sector
it guarantees rights to health insurance, unemployment of home employment, offering services to put private
2
benefits, pension, etc. employers in contact with home workers. The aim is to
enable the users booking and paying their employees
The CESU is much more than a tool for collecting online to declare the services automatically at the same
social contributions: it meets with the day-to-day needs of time and thus to experience a simple and efficient proce-
millions of French people and supports the development dure.
of employment in the sector of services to individuals.
By accompanying the needs of elderly or disabled
persons for care at home, by contributing to a better
work-life balance and by guaranteeing social coverage
for household workers, it conveys the values of solidarity
and emancipation of the Social Security scheme.
[11] About Urssaf:
Accompanying employers and business owners as part of a simple and personalised service relationship for ensuring the collection of
the contributions with efficiency and equity, as efficient social contributions collector: these are the major stakes of the Urssaf offices.
Its assignment within the Social Security system: finance the French social model, with almost 500 billion Euros collected from 9.4 mil-
lion contributors. Its social assignment: guarantee social welfare for the workers (health insurance, pension, family benefits) related to
performing a job in a legal context. Its economic assignment: facilitate the formalities for employers and guarantee the respect of social
rules that are essential for fair competition
19PART 2
FOCUS:
THE FRENCH CESU,
IN FIGURES (2017 TOTALS)
19 million
More than 1 921 935
declarations employer
(of which 73.4% declared online) users
An average of 2,078 billion
600 615 employees Euros of contributions
declared monthly collected
CESU
20RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY OF THE HOME EMPLOYMENT
SECTOR AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
3 | WHICH STATUS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN
PUBLIC POLICIES?
The development of this new T h e r e i s n o u n i q u e p a t h . In
activity sector requires a good iden- France, the social dialogue came
tification of its economic members: about before the recognition of the
the employers are families and not status of private employer in the law.
firms, the workers often have few This social dialogue has existed for
qualifications and may be in more almost 20 years, whereas the status
or less unstable situations. Moreover, of households employing workers in
the employment relationship does their home has only been recognised
not pursue any profit-making pur- in the French Employment Code
pose, and the work is performed in a since 2016, at the same time as their
private home which is, by definition, economic role. The absence of reco-
inviolable. Rights adapted to these gnition of the status of the household
specific characteristics must there- employers and the employees that
fore be stipulated. they employ, and the uniqueness
CESU of the employment relationship
The economic sector represents In France, the social dialogue between them, has led to complica-
millions of jobs with social value at exists and has enabled the develop- ting the translation of the progress
European level. The societal stakes ment of the sector and its members negotiated, in the texts and in the
involved in it are decisive for the and the signature of many agree- facts. An exceptional employment
2
future and its development potential ments creating new rights. In Spain, law for the sector of home employ-
is very high. How can it be orga- on the contrary, the members ment has been drawn up alongside
nised and recognised? One of the struggle to come out from the under- common law, stage by stage, so
responses lies in the development ground economy and the former that the workers social rights are not
of a social dialogue adapted to the methods of domesticity, in particular reduced compared to the other. This
uniqueness and components of the due to the fact that the trade unions also ensures that the families benefit
sector, at national or European level. defending the rights of domestic from less restrictive rules than firms,
workers do not have any represen- while respecting the private nature of
tative from the families employing their home.
them with whom they may discuss,
negotiate and build up a framework
for this special economic sector.
OUR PROPOSAL
If a European public policy endeavours to organise
the home employment sector, the recognition of the
status of the household employers and of the domes-
tic worker at European level will be a prerequisite. It
may also contribute to driving this trend in Member
States, by encouraging them to recognise the speci-
fic nature of the economic members in question in
their respective legislations, and to ensuring the reco-
gnition and emergence of the activity sector in itself,
prior to its assistance and its development.
21PART 3
A NECESSARY
IMPROVEMENT
OF WORKING CONDITIONS
FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS
AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
Ensure the development of an organised
social dialogue, secure working conditions
and professionalization is a key to enhance social
rights for domestic workers in Europe.
22A NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT OF WORKING CONDITIONS FOR
DOMESTIC WORKERS AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
One of the major concerns of the social rights than workers in other In addition, the transfer of many
European Pillar of Social Rights is the activity sectors. For example, in undeclared jobs to the formal eco-
access for all workers, regardless of Spain, domestic workers employed nomy and the integration of current
their activity sector, to decent condi- and declared by the families may and future migrant populations are
tions of work and employment. The be dismissed, quite legally, wit- a way to develop the sector. Employ-
home employment sector is particu- ment opportunity and enhancing
hout notice and without receiving
larly affected by these stakes. social rights for workers is crucial.
unemployment benefits. The social
In some Member States, domestic organisation re presenting them
workers, including those performing (CCOO Construccion y servicios) is
their work in a legal framework, currently campaigning to bring their
still benefit from less protective social rights in line with common law.
1|E
NSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIAL DIALOGUE
AT EUROPEAN LEVEL AND IN THE MEMBER STATES
FOR AN EFFICIENT SOCIAL PROTECTION
OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
Structure trade
unions of workers
sphere and is therefore placed out
of the scope of legislation of the
sector often find it difficult to orga-
nise themselves as social partners at
3
and employers States[12]), and respecting the specific national level and to undertake col-
stakes of this sector in terms of secu- lective actions.
rity and risk prevention at work. A
In order to reinforce the quality Few European countries have
social dialogue will help raise awar-
of the working and employment trade unions and employer organi-
eness for employers and workers on
conditions of workers of the sec- sations for negotiating, discussing
the specific rights and obligations
tor, the first identified lever is the and implementing a legal framework
linked to the contractual working
implementation of conditions that adapted to the home employment
relationship.
encourage the development of a sector. In Spain, there are no repre-
social dialogue between represen- The development of a negotiated sentatives of household employers.
tatives of workers and of household framework in relation to collec- T h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f wo r ke r s
employers. Exchanges and negotia- tive agreements or arrangements hired directly by the households is
tions between the parties involved is a priority for ensuring the secu- encompassed in the general repre-
must enable the creation of the legal rity of the employment relationship sentation of household workers,
context for performing these jobs between the two parties. whether they are employed by a
and adapted organisation methods family or by a service provider orga-
of the sector in each Member State. The development of strong repre- nisation, with some shared stakes
The main components are respec- sentative organisations, both for but with very different solutions to
ting the specific characteristics of the the workers and for the employers, be implemented. The dialogue can-
employers (families employing a per- is also an essential condition of the not therefore be implemented, due to
son without pursuing a profit-making social dialogue. However, the pri- lack of negotiators. .
objective), respecting the workplace vate household employers and the
(a home which falls within a private workers of the home employment
[12] For example, in France, the private home is inviolable in accordance with the French Penal Code. Consequently,
a labour inspector may not enter it.
23PART 3
In Italy, the Federazione ita- Their role with the public autho- The social dialogue must also
liana dei datori di lavoro domestico rities is essential, and must enable take shape at European level, in
(FIDALDO[13]) contribute to the social the implementation of policies sup- order to ensure the recognition of
dialogue at national level for the porting declared jobs in the sector, the sector and to define its specific
household employers. In France, the leading to the funding of social pro- characteristics and its stakes. The
sector-based social dialogue is very tection. Finally, household employers recognition at European level of
organised and has enabled consi- are assisted in understanding and the status of household employer
derable progress for the working gaining awareness of the responsi- and of workers directly employed
conditions of the sector’s employees. bilities involved in the status of by a household may constitute a
household employer, in particular relevant and efficient base for the
The organisation of a sec- in terms of risk prevention at work. development of the future European
tor-based social dialogue would By making their homes safe and by social dialogue. It may also facilitate
enable the European social partners encouraging the professionalization its emergence within the Member
to observe good practices at national of their employees, the household States. Europe must give the neces-
level and to contribute to spreading employers become real econo- sary drive to enable the civil society
these good practices at European mic actors of a sector which builds to get organised and to create a
level. This would be an encouraging up its quality at the same time as virtuous ecosystem offering social
factor for countries in which there is it implements the conditions of its rights to domestic workers paid by
not yet any conventional base[14]. The attractiveness. This means that, in the the families. This will also ensure the
conditions of a committed sector- future, the workers that they employ decline of undeclared work that is
based social dialogue must be pre- will be able to meet with their expec- predominant in Europe in this sector.
pared to enable access to social tations in a secure context.
rights, the professionalization of the EFFE must become the European
employees and a sector-based Euro- It is the role of the European insti- organisation of the sector on which
pean observatory. tutions to encourage Member States the European institutions may rely
to organise an adapted sector-based on for the creation of a first dialogue
In the few countries in which the social dialogue. process and the proposal of shared
social dialogue is organised, most of orientations. Indeed, EFFE currently
the employees and the household constitutes a centre of representa-
employers are however unaware tives of household employers from
that they are represented and are many Member States, committed, in
unaware of a part of their rights and varying stages, to the organisation of
obligations. The social partners must the home employment sector in their
endeavour to develop their visibility respective countries, and also asso-
and put their communication to the ciates workers representations.
service of real development of the
sector’s social protection, by infor-
ming workers of their rights and
helping them to assert them.
“ Recognizing at EU level both legal statuses
of household employer and domestic worker
shall efficiently and adequately push the emergence
of a social dialogue forward ”
[13] FIDALDO brings together the following structures: Assindatcolf, Nuova Collaborazione, ADLC, ADLD, and DONIMA
[14] Cf. White Paper of November 2013 ordered by FGTAFO entitled “Employees of private employers: implementation of social dialogue
tools on a European level"
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